Information processing apparatus having multiple display regions, control method, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

A prescribed program causes a computer to display a first display region to execute printing by using a first color adopting an ordinary color ink being an ink of a process color and a specific color ink being an ink of a color other than the process color, and a second display region being different from the first display region to execute printing by using a second color being different from the first color and adopting at least the specific color ink.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, acontrol method, and a storage medium for performing desired spot colorprinting with a printing apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

A printing apparatus aiming at expansion in color reproduction region byusing an ink generally called a specific color ink of a color such asred, blue, green, and fluorescent pink in addition to basic colors ofcyan, magenta, yellow, and black generally used in printing apparatuseshas been developed in recent years. Moreover, a technique called spotcolor printing configured to express a specific location on a printproduct with a predetermined specific color ink has been used therein.For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2016-103695 discloses atechnique configured to perform printing while replacing information(RGB values) on a specific color with a predetermined specific color inthe course of printing.

There is a demand for avoiding the occurrence of an unintended printresult in the case of performing the spot color printing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Given the circumstances, the present invention intends to provide aninformation processing apparatus, a control method, and a storagemedium, which are capable of suppressing the occurrence of an unintendedprint result.

A storage medium according to the present invention is a storage mediumstoring a prescribed program, the prescribed program causing a computerto execute: a display controlling step of executing processing todisplay a first display region to execute printing by using a firstcolor adopting an ordinary color ink being an ink of a process color anda specific color ink being an ink of a color other than the processcolor, and a second display region being different from the firstdisplay region to execute printing by using a second color beingdifferent from the first color and adopting at least the specific colorink; and a change controlling step of executing processing to changefrom setting to print a first print region in a print target imagecorresponding to first RGB values by using a third color being theprocess color to setting to print the first print region by using thefirst color in a case where the first display region is operated, andprocessing to change from setting to print a second print region in theprint target image corresponding to second RGB values by using a fourthcolor being the process color to setting to print the second printregion by using the second color in a case where the second displayregion is operated.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide aninformation processing apparatus, a control method, and a storagemedium, which are capable of suppressing the occurrence of an unintendedprint result.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a printingsystem;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the printing systemthat performs spot color printing;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an application;

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a print setting dialogue;

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a spot color setting screen;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing corresponding designated RGB values,displayed RGB values, and corresponding commands;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing print data creation processing;

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a command to be added;

FIG. 7B is a diagram showing another command to be added;

FIG. 7C is a diagram showing still another command to be added;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a poster data creation application;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing spot color display processing;

FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing spot color return processing;

FIG. 10B is a flowchart showing setting processing;

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a print setting dialog;

FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a spot color setting screen;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing spot color information update processing;and

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing designated RGB values, displayed RGBvalues, and corresponding commands.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a printingsystem. A host computer 101 represents an example of an informationprocessing apparatus and includes an input interface 110, a CPU 111, aROM 112, a RAM 113, an external storage device 114, an output interface115, and an input-output interface 116. Meanwhile, input devicesincluding a keyboard 118, a pointing device 117, and the like areconnected to the input interface 110, while a display device such as adisplay unit 119 is connected to the output interface 115.

An initialization program is stored in the ROM 112. A group ofapplication programs, an operating system (OS), a printer driver, andother various data are stored in the external storage device 114. TheRAM 113 is used, for example, as a work memory in executing variousprograms stored in the external storage device 114.

In the present embodiment, the CPU 111 implements the after-mentionedfunctions of the host computer 101 and processing concerning theafter-mentioned flowcharts by carrying out processing in accordance withprocedures of programs stored in the ROM 112. A printing apparatus (animage output apparatus) 102 is connected to the host computer 101through the input-output interface 116. Here, the host computer 101 andthe printing apparatus 102 are separately provided. However, the hostcomputer 101 and the printing apparatus 102 may be integrated togetheras a single information processing apparatus. Although the descriptionwill be given below of an example in which the printing apparatus 102 isan ink jet printer which carries out printing by ejecting inks onto asheet surface. However, the printing apparatus 102 may execute theprinting in accordance with other methods (such as anelectrophotographic method). Meanwhile, the CPU 111 may carry out printcontrol of the printing apparatus 102.

In the present embodiment, the description will be given of an ink jetprinter configured to carry out printing by using a color material of aspecial color at a specific location (hereinafter referred to as spotcolor printing) as an example. Moreover, the present embodiment willdescribe a large-format ink jet printer capable of printing on a printmedium in a large size such as AO and BO sizes as an example of theprinting apparatus. In the meantime, the host computer 101 may be any ofa desktop personal computer, a smartphone, and a notebook personalcomputer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing systemthat performs the spot color printing. The spot color printing is aprinting mode that uses an ink of a special color (a spot color ink)other than CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) inks representinggeneral inks. A fluorescent pink ink is used as the spot color ink inthe present embodiment. However, the present invention is not limitedonly to this configuration and the number and colors of the special inksmay be arbitrarily determined. For example, a violet ink, a green ink,or an orange ink may be used as the spot color ink. An application 202is software for creating contents to be printed. For example, an imageediting application to create poster data corresponds to the application202. A user designates specific RGB data values on the application 202concerning characters and graphic image data for which the user wishesto carry out the spot color printing to be described later. Upon receiptof a print request from the user, the application 202 issues a printinstruction to an OS 201. Upon receipt of the print instruction, the OS201 assigns an OS printing system (not shown) included in the OS 201 toperform processing concerning the subsequent printing. The followingdescription will be given on the assumption that the OS printing systemcarries out actions in cooperation with a printer driver 203 provided bya printing apparatus vendor.

Upon receipt of a request for displaying a print setting screen from theapplication 202, the OS printing system requests the printer driver 203(a color information creation unit) to display a print setting screen,and the printer driver 203 displays the print setting screen on a userinterface unit 204. Although the print setting screen will be describedlater, a paper size, a paper type, and the like can be designated on theprint setting screen and the spot color printing can also be designatedthereon.

The printer driver 203 provides a software development kit (SDK) I/F206. The use of the SDK I/F 206 enables execution of the print settingon the application 202 without opening the print setting screen of theprinter driver 203. Moreover, the printer driver 203 can obtaininformation on the printing apparatus 102 by using an informationobtaining unit 207. Based on the information obtained from the printingapparatus 102, the printer driver 203 can display setting in conformityto the functions of the printing apparatus 102 on the user interfaceunit 204 and support the setting by way of the SDK I/F 206.

In response to the print instruction from the application 202, the printdata and the print setting in the application 202 are transferred to agraphics processing unit 205 of the printer driver 203 through the OSprinting system. The graphics processing unit 205 converts these datainto a data format interpretable by the printing apparatus 102, and thentransmits the converted data to the printing apparatus 102. Thereafter,the inks are ejected from a print head of the printing apparatus 102 andan image is formed on a print medium fed to the printing apparatus 102.Here, in the case of setting the spot color printing, the special colorink (hereinafter also referred to as the spot color ink) is ejected topixels having designated RGB values in the print data subjected to theprint setting involving the special color (hereinafter also referred toas the spot color).

Here, a description will be given of an example of the printingapparatus 102, which can perform printing with predetermined six typesof colors (special colors) adopting the spot colors by use of the spotcolor inks in a case where the spot color printing is set by using theprinter driver 203. In the case where the spot color printing is set byusing the printer driver 203, pixels having specific RGB valuescorresponding to the set spot color in the print data are printed byusing the spot color ink. In the present embodiment, the specific RGBvalues are allocated to the predetermined six types of colors,respectively. In the present embodiment, the specific RGB values areR=255 (0xFF), G=0 (0x00), and B=255 (0xFF), for example. The pixelshaving the corresponding RGB values are printed in fluorescent pink,which is one of the special colors, by using the fluorescent pink ink.

Alternatively, the specific RGB values are R=255 (0xFF), G=85 (0x55),and B=0 (0x00), for example. The pixels having the corresponding RGBvalues are printed in orange, which is another one of the specialcolors, by using the fluorescent pink ink mixed with the M and Y inks.Here, if an orange ink is available as the spot color ink, for example,then the printing in orange may be carried out by using the orange inkonly. In other words, the pixels having the specific RGB valuescorresponding to the spot color only need to be printed by using atleast the spot color ink, and may be printed by using the ink mixed withor not mixed with any of the CMYK inks. Note that the pixels not havingthe specific RGB values corresponding to the spot color are printed byusing the CMYK inks only even in the spot color printing. In themeantime, the spot color printing is executed in the case where the spotcolor printing is activated by a user operation. In other words, if thespot color print setting is not activated, then the pixels having thespecific RGB values corresponding to the spot color are also printed byusing the CMYK inks only with reference to the RGB values as usual.

Specifically, in the case where the printer driver 203 activates theprint setting of the fluorescent pink spot color and the RGB values ofthe pixels included in the transmitted print data are R=255, G=0, andB=255, the printing apparatus 102 can perform the spot color printing offlorescent pink. The same applies to other spot colors. Specifically, inthe case where the printer driver 203 activates the print setting ofeach spot color and the RGB values of the pixels included in thetransmitted print data have the RGB values corresponding to each spotcolor, the printing apparatus 102 can perform the corresponding spotcolor printing. On the other hand, the spot color printing is infeasiblein the case where the pixels having the above-mentioned specific RGBvalues corresponding to the spot color printing are not included in theprint data although the printer driver 203 activates the spot colorprint setting. In the case where the spot color printing is infeasible,an error (a warning) is notified in the present embodiment.

In the case of performing the spot color printing, the user selects thespot color to be used by way of the print setting of the printer driver203 to begin with. Then, the user creates a content on the application202, and designates RGB data values corresponding to the use of theabove-mentioned spot color ink to characters or graphic image data thatthe user would like to print by using the spot color ink.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the application 202 of thepresent embodiment, which is a diagram showing a screen example of aposter data creation application 314. The poster data creationapplication 314 includes toolbar buttons 300, a print data displayregion 301, a print data editing region 302, an object selecting frame303, an object color editing tab menu 304, and an object resizing tabmenu 305. Moreover, the poster data creation application 314 includes anobject display color item 306, an R value change control item 307, a Gvalue change control item 308, and a B value change control item 309 forchanging the RGB values of the object. Furthermore, the poster datacreation application 314 includes a control item 310, a print button311, a print setting button 312, and an end button 313.

The poster data creation application 314 (a print data creation unit)displays the print data in an editable manner. The toolbar buttons 300enable selection of functions such as cancellation and redoing of anediting operation, creation of a text object, creation of a graphicobject, creation of a print data object, change of a displaymagnification, display of help for the application, and selection of anobject. The print data display region 301 is a region to display printdata created by the user. The print data editing region (an imageediting screen) 302 is a region that enables the user to select anarbitrary object, to move the selected object, and to edit the printdata by using the pointing device 117. The object selecting frame 303 isa dashed-line display frame that shows the user that a certain object isselected in the case where the user selects the certain object.

FIG. 3 shows that selection of a text object “SALE”. In the case wherethe object color editing tab menu 304 is selected, a control item isdisplayed for changing a color of the object that is currently selected.In the case where the object resizing tab menu 305 is selected, acontrol item is displayed for changing the size of the currentlyselected object.

In FIG. 3 , the object color editing tab menu 304 is selected, and theobject display color item 306 as well as the R value change control item307, the G value change control item 308, and the B value change controlitem 309 for changing the RGB values of the object are displayed. Eachcontrol item for the R value, the G value, and the B value can set avalue from 0 to 255 by directly inputting a value with the keyboard 118or by selecting a button on the right side of each control item with thepointing device 117. Meanwhile, in the case where the RGB values arechanged, the display color item 306 is also changed in accordance withthe RGB values. In the example of FIG. 3 , the RGB values of the textobject “SALE” surrounded by the object selecting frame 303 are assumedto be set to R=255, G=0, and B=255 that represent the specific colorvalues.

In the present embodiment, a data creation color space of theapplication 202 and a color space of the print data created by arendering engine of the printer driver 203 are defined as sRGB colorspaces that stand for standard RGB color spaces. Moreover, an effect ofcolor matching processing is assumed to be negligible for the purpose ofsimplifying the explanation. Meanwhile, the data creation color space ofthe application 202 and a color space of the print data created by arendering engine of the OS printing system are also defined as the sRGBcolor spaces that stand for the standard RGB color spaces. Here, theeffect of the color matching processing is assumed to be negligible forthe purpose of simplifying the explanation.

In other words, the RGB values expressed on the application 202 areassumed to coincide with the RGB values of the pixels included in theprint data created by the rendering engine of either the printer driver203 or the OS printing system. Accordingly, in the case of setting theRGB values R=255, G=0, and B=255 to the spot color as the print settingof the printer driver 203, the print data having the aforementioned RGBvalues becomes the data to be printed in the fluorescent pink spotcolor. The following description will be given on the assumption thatthe RGB values of other image objects displayed in the print dataediting region 302 have the RGB values other than the aforementionedvalues. In the case of carrying out the color matching, the color valuesobtained after converting the special color before the conversion in thecolor space may be treated as those of the special color.

In the control item 310, a print queue for the printing apparatus 102registered with the OS printing system in advance can be selected from alist. The print button 311 is a button to be selected by the user in thecase of printing the print data displayed in the print data editingregion 302 with the printer. The print setting button 312 is a buttonfor opening a print setting detail screen. Here, a print setting screencorresponding to the print queue designated with the control item 310 isopened. The end button 313 is an end button to be selected by the userin the case of terminating the poster data creation application.

Back to the explanation of FIG. 2 , upon receipt of the print requestfrom the user, the application 202 (the poster data creation application314) issues the print instruction to the OS 201. Upon receipt of theprint instruction, the OS 201 assigns subsequent processing concerningthe printing to the not-illustrated OS printing system which is providedto the OS 201. Here, the OS printing system performs operations incooperation with the printer driver 203.

Here, it has been a general practice to set the arbitrary RGB values andto designate the spot color so as to correspond to the set RGB values,thereby printing the set RGB values in the arbitrary spot color.However, the user cannot visually check the multiple spot colors thatthe user can designate. For this reason, the user can hardly recognizewhich RGB values correspond to the spot color, and this situation maylead to the occurrence of an unintended print result.

On the other hand, the present embodiment enables the visual check ofthe multiple spot colors that can be designated on a spot color settingscreen, so that the user can designate the spot color while visuallychecking the multiple spot colors. Now, a description will be given of amethod of designating a spot color in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a print setting dialogue 400 thatrepresents a setting screen of the printer driver 203, and FIG. 4B is adiagram showing a spot color setting screen 402 of the presentembodiment. Upon receipt of an instruction to start the print settingscreen from the application 202 through the OS printing system, theprinter driver 203 (see FIG. 2 ) causes the user interface unit 204 toperform display control, thereby displaying the print setting dialogue400. The user can obtain a desired print product from the printingapparatus 102 by performing a variety of print setting on the printsetting dialogue 400. A button 401 is a button used for opening a spotcolor detail setting screen, and the spot color setting screen 402 inFIG. 4B is opened in the case where the button 401 is pressed.

The RGB values corresponding to the predetermined spot colors, displaycolor items 404 based on the RGB values, and check boxes 403 used forsetting whether or not to print the RGB values as the spot color aredisplayed on the spot color setting screen 402. In other words, eachcheck box 403 is an item to accept selection as to whether or not it isappropriate to activate the spot color printing to print the pixelshaving the RGB values corresponding to the spot color in the spot color.Here, in the case where the spot color printing is not activated, thepixels having the RGB values corresponding to the spot color are printedin a color which is not the spot color. In this context, this item canalso be regarded as the item for accepting a setting as to whether it isappropriate to print the pixels having the specific RGB values in thespot color or to print these pixels in a color different from the spotcolor. In the meantime, this item can also be regarded as the item foraccepting a setting as to whether it is appropriate to print thesepixels by using the spot color ink or to print these pixels by using theordinary inks such as the CMYK inks and without using the spot colorink. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the check boxes 403 areprovided for the multiple spot colors, respectively. This makes itpossible to set activation and inactivation of the spot color printingdepending on each of the spot colors. Accordingly, the check boxes 403include an item to accept selection as to whether or not it isappropriate to activate the spot color printing (fluorescent pink spotcolor printing) to print the pixels having the RGB values correspondingto fluorescent pink in fluorescent pink, for example. Meanwhile, thecheck boxes 403 include an item to accept selection as to whether or notit is appropriate to activate the spot color printing (orange spot colorprinting) to print the pixels having the RGB values corresponding toorange in orange, for example. By employing this spot color settingscreen 402, the user can select the color to be used as the spot colorwhile visually checking the multiple spot colors that the user candesignate. Moreover, since the separate check boxes are provided, it ispossible to perform the setting in such a way as to activate thefluorescent pink spot color printing while inactivating the orange spotcolor printing, for example. FIG. 4B shows the setting in which the RGBvalues of R=255, G=0, and B=255 are subjected to printing as the spotcolor (the special color), and the check box 403 corresponding to thevalues R=255, G=0, and B=255 is checked and turned on.

Thereafter, in the case where the setting screen of the printer driver203 is closed by using an OK button 405, the setting is transmitted tothe application 202. Then, in the case where the printing is instructedby the application 202, the printing apparatus 102 performs the printingby using the fluorescent pink spot color ink on the condition that thecorresponding RGB values (R=255, G=0, and B=255) are included in theprint data created by the printer driver 203. In the case where thecheck box 403 is turned off on the spot color setting screen 402, theprinting apparatus 102 does not use the spot color ink even if thecorresponding RGB values (R=255, G=0, and B=255) are included in theprint data created by the printer driver 203. In the latter case, theprinting apparatus 102 forms an image at a portion having thecorresponding RGB values by expressing the RGB values with process colorinks such as the CMYK inks.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing designated RGB values corresponding to thespot colors, displayed RGB values, and corresponding commands. Thecolors to be actually printed by using the spot colors are differentfrom the colors according to the designated RGB values. Accordingly, thedisplay color items 404 on the spot color setting screen 402 may displaythe colors that are close to the colors to be actually printed (maydisplay the colors according to the display RGB values) instead ofdisplaying the colors according to the designated RGB values.

For example, in the case of printing the values R=255, G=0, and B=255 asfluorescent pink as shown in FIG. 5 , the florescent pink color to beactually printed is displayed on the display unit 119 (see FIG. 1 ) byusing the color close to the values R=255, G=130, and B=220. As aconsequence, the color item 404 is displayed based on the values R=255,G=130, and B=220.

The present embodiment shows the example of printing each of thecorresponding RGB values in a fluorescent spot color by using thefluorescent pink ink. Instead, spot colors using other special colorinks such as silver and gold may be allocated to arbitrary RGB values.The printer driver 203 retains information on the designated RGB values,the display RGB values, and the corresponding commands which correspondto these spot colors.

Note that the setting concerning the spot color is not limited only tothe above-described method. For example, the image output apparatus 102first displays an item on the printer driver 203 for accepting thesetting as to whether or not it is appropriate to activate the spotcolor printing. Then, the setting as to whether or not it is appropriateto activate the spot color printing of each color may be accepted on thescreen shown in FIG. 4B in the case where the setting for executing thespot color printing is accepted as a consequence of an operationinvolving the relevant item.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing print data creation processing. In thecase where the print button 311 of the poster data creation application314 is pressed in a state of each of the control items on the printsetting dialogue 400 (see FIG. 4A), the print setting is transmitted tothe graphics processing unit 205 (see FIG. 2 ) through the OS printingsystem. The print data creation processing of the present embodimentwill be described below with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 6 . Notethat the series of processing shown in FIG. 6 is carried out by causingthe CPU 111 of the host computer 101 to load the program codes stored inthe ROM 112 into the external storage device 114 and to execute theprogram codes. Alternatively, part or all of the functions of the stepsin FIG. 6 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC and an electroniccircuit. Note that code “S” used in the explanation of each processingmeans the step in the corresponding flowchart.

In the case where the print data creation processing is started, thegraphics processing unit 205 creates a command for printing the RGBvalues selected on the spot color setting screen 402 as the spot colorby the control of the CPU 111 in S601. Thereafter, in S602, the graphicsprocessing unit 205 adds the command designating the spot color to theprint data obtained by converting the image to be printed into theformat interpretable by the printing apparatus 102 by the control of theCPU 111, and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 102. Inother words, the CPU 111 transmits special color information to theprinting apparatus 102. In this instance, the graphics processing unit205 adds the command corresponding to the set spot color described inFIG. 5 instead of carrying out the processing for changing the RGBvalues designated as the spot color into other values by editing on theprint data. Note that the information at least associating thedesignated RGB values with the commands as shown in FIG. 5 is alsomanaged by the printing apparatus 102. The printing apparatus 102 canidentify the designated RGB values targeted for the spot color based onthe received command.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are diagrams showing the commands to be added. Forexample, a command shown in FIG. 7A is added in the case of designatingthe values R=255, G=0, and B=255 as the spot color, and a command shownin FIG. 7B is added in the case of designating the values R=255, G=170,and B=255 as the spot color. In the case of designating the valuesR=255, G=0, and B=255 as well as the values R=255, G=170, and B=255 asthe spot colors, a logical sum of both of bit flags in FIG. 7A and FIG.7B is designated as shown in FIG. 7C. In this way, it is possible todesignate two or more spot colors with a single command.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the multiple spot colorsthat can be designated are displayed on the spot color setting screen.Accordingly, in the present embodiment, screens do not have to beswitched in the case of designating the multiple spot colors, and it iseasier to recognize which RGB values are set to the spot color. As aconsequence, it is possible to realize an information processingapparatus, a control method, and a storage medium, which are capable ofsuppressing the occurrence of an unintended print result.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described belowwith reference to the drawings. Note that the basic configuration of thepresent embodiment is the same as the configuration of the firstembodiment. Accordingly, characteristic structures of the presentembodiment will be described below.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a poster data creation application 315 ofthe present embodiment. The first embodiment has described the exampleof opening the print setting dialogue 400 from the poster data creationapplication 314 and designating the spot color by opening the spot colorsetting screen 402. The present embodiment will describe an example of aconfiguration to directly set the spot color on a screen of the posterdata creation application 315 in order to improve user convenience. Notethat portions not expressly stated in the following description are thesame as those of the first embodiment.

The poster data creation application 315 of the present embodimentincludes a check box 801 and a pallet 802 of the spot colors so as toenable selection and setting of the spot color on the poster datacreation application 315.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing spot color display processing of thepresent embodiment. Meanwhile, FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing spotcolor return processing to be carried out in the course of the spotcolor display processing. The spot color display processing of thepresent embodiment will be described below with reference to theflowcharts in FIGS. 9 and 10A. Note that the series of processing shownin FIGS. 9, 10A, and 10B is carried out by causing the CPU 111 of thehost computer 101 to load the program codes stored in the ROM 112 intothe external storage device 114 and to execute the program codes.Alternatively, part or all of the functions of the steps in FIGS. 9,10A, and 10B may be realized by the hardware such as the ASIC and theelectronic circuit.

In the case where the spot color display processing of the presentembodiment is started, the poster data creation application 315 accessesthe SDK I/F 206 of the printer driver 203 for the printer selected byusing the control item 310 by the control of the CPU 111 in S901. Then,the poster data creation application 315 (the application 202) obtainsthe information on the spot colors compatible with (supported by) theprinter driver 203. In this instance, the printer driver 203 returns theinformation on all the compatible spot colors to the poster datacreation application 315 (the application 202) as shown in FIG. 10B(S1001). Specifically, in response to a request from the poster datacreation application 315 (the application 202) for obtaining theinformation on the spot colors, the printer driver 203 returns theinformation on the spot colors through the SDK I/F 206. Note that theinformation shown in FIG. 5 is returned as the information on the spotcolors to be returned to the poster data creation application 315 by theprinter driver 203.

Thereafter, based on the information on the printing apparatus 102 andthe like obtained by the information obtaining unit 207, the poster datacreation application 315 determines whether or not the spot colors thatcan be designated are included in the obtained information on the spotcolors by the control of the CPU 111 in S902. In the case where thereare the spot colors that can be designated, the processing goes to S903to display the check box 801 to set on and off of the spot color and todisplay the pallet 802 of the settable spot colors, and then theprocessing is terminated. On the other hand, in the case where there areno colors that can be designated in the information obtained in S902,the processing goes to S904 to terminate the processing withoutdisplaying the check box 801 to set on and off of the spot color ordisplaying the pallet 802 of the settable spot colors.

Then, in the case where the user designates the spot color, the userselects an object that the user wishes to print in the spot color on theposter data creation application 315. In FIG. 8 , an object in theselecting frame 303 is the selected object. Thereafter, the user turnson the check box 801 of the spot color and selects the spot color thatthe user wishes to use for the printing from the colors in the pallet802. Here, if the user selects a color 803 having the values R=255, G=0,and B=255 from the pallet 802, the color of the selected object in theobject selecting frame 303 is changed to the color having the valuesR=255, G=0, and B=255.

Then, the poster data creation application 315 accesses the SDK I/F 206of the printer driver 203, and sets the color having the values R=255,G=0, and B=255 in the printer driver 203 as the spot color. In thisinstance, the printer driver 203 sets the color having the values R=255,G=0, and B=255 to an on-state as the spot color in S1002 as shown inFIG. 10B. Moreover, the printer driver 203 also sets a color 306 to theselected color having the values R=255, G=0, and B=255 and sets the Rvalue 307 to 255, the G value 308 to 0, and the B value 309 to 255.

Thereafter, in the case where the user presses the print button 311 (seeFIG. 8 ) and executes the printing, the print setting is transferred tothe graphics processing unit 205 through the OS printing system. Then,the application 202 transmits the command corresponding to the spotcolor having the values R=255, G=0, and B=255 to the printing apparatus102 together with the print data as with the first embodiment.

Here, the color to be expressed as the spot color on the screen in FIG.8 may be expressed by using a color having different values from thedesignated RGB values based on the relation in FIG. 5 . For example, thecolor 803 having the values R=255, G=0, and B=255 is displayed with thecolor having the values R=255, G=130, and B=220. Then, in the case wherethe color having the values R=255, G=0, and B=255 is selected as thespot color, the object 303 and the color 306 are also displayed with thecolor having the values R=255, G=130, and B=220. Nonetheless, thedesignated RGB values (R=255, G=0, and B=255) are displayed on the Rvalue 307, the G value 308, and the B value 309.

Meanwhile, in the case of setting the spot color off in the spot colorcheck box 801, the colors in the object 303 and the color 306 aredisplayed by using the designated RGB values instead of the display RGBvalues.

As described above, the multiple spot colors that can be designated aredisplayed on the data creation application. In this way, it is possibleto realize an information processing apparatus, a control method, and astorage medium, which are capable of suppressing the occurrence of anunintended print result.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings. Note that the basic configuration of thepresent embodiment is the same as the configuration of the firstembodiment. Accordingly, characteristic structures of the presentembodiment will be described below.

In the first embodiment, the printer driver 203 includes the data shownin FIG. 5 in advance and the spot color setting screen 402 is displayedbased on the data. In the present embodiment, the printer driver 203obtains the information on the spot colors from the printing apparatus102 by using the information obtaining unit 207, and displays the spotcolor setting screen corresponding to the obtained information. A methodtherefor will be described below.

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a print setting dialog 1102 which is asetting screen of the printer driver 203, and FIG. 11B is a diagramshowing a spot color setting screen 1101 of the present embodiment.Meanwhile, FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing spot color information updateprocessing, and FIG. 13 is a diagram showing designated RGB values,displayed RGB values, and corresponding commands, which correspond tothe spot colors.

The print setting dialog 1102 includes an obtain information button 1100for obtaining the information on the spot colors from the printingapparatus 102. Now, the spot color information update processing of thepresent embodiment will be described below with reference to theflowchart of FIG. 12 . The series of processing shown in FIG. 12 iscarried out by causing the CPU 111 of the host computer 101 to load theprogram codes stored in the ROM 112 into the external storage device 114and to execute the program codes. Alternatively, part or all of thefunctions of the steps in FIG. 12 may be realized by the hardware suchas the ASIC and the electronic circuit.

The spot color information update processing is started in the casewhere the obtain information button 1100 is pressed by the user. In51201, the information obtaining unit 207 of the printer driver 203obtains the information on the spot colors as shown in FIG. 13 from theprinting apparatus 102 by the control of the CPU 111. Thereafter, theinformation obtaining unit 207 determines whether or not the informationon the spot colors is included in the obtained information by thecontrol of the CPU 111 in S1202. In the case where the information onthe spot colors is included, the processing goes to S1203 to rewriteinternal data with the obtained data (such as the data shown in FIG. 13) and then the processing is terminated. If the information on the spotcolor is not included in the obtained information in S1202, theprocessing goes to S1204 to gray out the spot color setting the spotcolor setting button 401 to represent the printing apparatus 102 notcompatible with the spot colors. Thus, the spot color setting isdisabled and then the processing is terminated.

In the case of rewriting the internal data by the control of the CPU 111in S1203, the printer driver 203 displays a new spot color settingscreen 1101 based on the rewritten data (such as the data shown in FIG.13 ) in the case where the button 401 is pressed.

Meanwhile, after updating the internal data with the information on thespot colors obtained from the printing apparatus 102, the printer driver203 also updates the values of the spot colors returned to theapplication 202 by the SDK I/F 206 with the data shown in FIG. 13 .Accordingly, the display of the spot colors that the application 202displays by using the SDK I/F 206 can also be changed to the spot colorsobtained from the printing apparatus 102.

Here, the multiple spot colors available for the printing with theprinting apparatus 102 have degrees of clearness that are different fromone another. Accordingly, priorities defined in such a way as to rank aclearer spot color that commands attraction higher may be added to theinformation obtained from the printing apparatus 102 and to theinformation returned from the SDK I/F 206 to the application. Then, aspot color setting screen 901 of the printer driver 203 and the order toline up options of the spot colors of the application 202 may be changedbased on the priorities.

As described above, the spot color setting screen is displayed byobtaining the information on the spot colors from the printing apparatusby using the information obtaining unit of the printer driver. Thus, itis possible to realize an information processing apparatus, a controlmethod, and a storage medium, which are capable of suppressing theoccurrence of an unintended print result. Moreover, by obtaining theinformation on the spot colors from the printing apparatus, it ispossible to perform the printing in the spot color appropriately even ina case where the printing apparatus carries new spot colors. On theother hand, even in a case where the printing apparatus is no longercompatible with the spot color printing, it is possible to suppress theoccurrence of an unintended print result by allowing the user to disablethe spot color setting.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2021-019318 filed Feb. 9, 2021, which is hereby incorporated byreference wherein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage medium storing a prescribed program,the prescribed program causing a computer to execute: executingprocessing to display a first display region to execute printing byusing a first color adopting an ordinary color ink being an ink of aprocess color and a specific color ink being an ink of a color otherthan the process color, and a second display region being different fromthe first display region to execute printing by using a second colorbeing different from the first color and adopting at least the specificcolor ink; and executing processing to change from setting to print afirst print region in a print target image corresponding to first RGBvalues by using a third color being the process color to setting toprint the first print region by using the first color in a case wherethe first display region is operated, and processing to change fromsetting to print a second print region in the print target imagecorresponding to second RGB values by using a fourth color being theprocess color to setting to print the second print region by using thesecond color in a case where the second display region is operated. 2.The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the first displayregion displays values representing the first RGB values, and the seconddisplay region displays values representing the second RGB values. 3.The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the prescribed programfurther causes the computer to execute: obtaining capability informationon an printing apparatus, wherein the computer performs control in sucha way as not to display a region out of the first display region and thesecond display region to be subjected to execution of printing by usinga color not compatible with the capability information on the printingapparatus.
 4. The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein theprocessing to display the first display region and the second displayregion is processing to display the first display region and the seconddisplay region on a screen displayed by the prescribed program.
 5. Thestorage medium according to claim 1, wherein the processing to displaythe first display region and the second display region is processing tocause a different program being differ from the prescribed program toobtain information for displaying the first display region and thesecond display region, and in a case where the different program obtainsthe information for displaying the first display region and the seconddisplay region, the first display region and the second display regionare displayed on a screen displayed by the different program.
 6. Thestorage medium according to claim 5, wherein the prescribed program is aprinter driver, and the different program is a program configured toinput RGB values concerning the print target image.
 7. The storagemedium according to claim 1, wherein the prescribed program furthercauses the computer to execute: transmitting print data for printing theprint target image and a command for printing the first print region byusing the first color to a printing apparatus in a case where printingof the print target image is instructed after execution of theprocessing to change to the setting to print the first print region byusing the first color.
 8. The storage medium according to claim 1,wherein processing to display a third display region, the third displayregion being different from the first display region and from the seconddisplay region, to execute printing by using a fifth color beingdifferent from the first color and the second color and adopting atleast the specific color ink is further executed, and processing tochange from setting to print a third print region in the print targetimage corresponding to third RGB values by using a sixth color being theprocess color to setting to print the third print region by using thefifth color is further executed in a case where the third display regionis operated.
 9. The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein thespecific color ink includes an ink of a fluorescent color.
 10. Thestorage medium according to claim 1, wherein the specific color inkincludes at least one of a violet ink, a green ink, and an orange ink.11. The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the prescribedprogram is a printer driver.
 12. The storage medium according to claim1, wherein the prescribed program is a program configured to input RGBvalues concerning the print target image.
 13. The storage mediumaccording to claim 1, wherein the prescribed program is a poster datacreation application program.
 14. The storage medium according to claim1, where in a plurality of display regions including the first displayregion and the second display region are controlled in such a way as tobe arranged and displayed in an order in accordance with prescribedpriorities.
 15. The storage medium according to claim 14, wherein theprescribed priorities are defined in such a way as to rank a displayregion corresponding to a clearer color higher.
 16. A control method ofan information processing apparatus comprising: executing processing todisplay a first display region to execute printing by using a firstcolor adopting an ordinary color ink being an ink of a process color anda specific color ink being an ink of a color other than the processcolor, and a second display region being different from the firstdisplay region to execute printing by using a second color beingdifferent from the first color and adopting at least the specific colorink; and executing processing to change from setting to print a firstprint region in a print target image corresponding to first RGB valuesby using a third color being the process color to setting to print thefirst print region by using the first color in a case where the firstdisplay region is operated, and processing to change from setting toprint a second print region in the print target image corresponding tosecond RGB values by using a fourth color being the process color tosetting to print the second print region by using the second color in acase where the second display region is operated.
 17. An informationprocessing apparatus comprising: a display control unit configured toexecute processing to display a first display region to execute printingby using a first color adopting an ordinary color ink being an ink of aprocess color and a specific color ink being an ink of a color otherthan the process color, and a second display region being different fromthe first display region to execute printing by using a second colorbeing different from the first color and adopting at least the specificcolor ink; and a change control unit configured to execute processing tochange from setting to print a first print region in a print targetimage corresponding to first RGB values by using a third color being theprocess color to setting to print the first print region by using thefirst color in a case where the first display region is operated, andprocessing to change from setting to print a second print region in theprint target image corresponding to second RGB values by using a fourthcolor being the process color to setting to print the second printregion by using the second color in a case where the second displayregion is operated.